Chocolate Bars, Evil Hormones and the Myth of Goal

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Fresh off a successful weigh in for BLC, I find myself awash in evil lady hormones, staring down the nose of a chocolate bar. As I tear through my quarry like a rabid animal, several thoughts spring to mind.

It is always easier to just not start than it is to stop eating chocolate.

Sugar does not make me feel good after I eat it -- only while I'm eating it. It is the most ephemeral of highs.

I'm 8 pounds away from my goal for the year. I have been losing weight steadily since January of this year. The sky's changed from an icy blue to a glorious sun touched hue. Everyone's casting off their winter shells and suddenly, it's all parties and treats and positive moods. The desire to throw caution to the wind and just say "yes" is at an all time high.

I think that even though I know better, I still have it in my head that once I reach my goal, I'll be able to say "yes" more often. Yes to that cocktail, yes to that chocolate bar. That you say "no" until you get there and then all the "yeses" can flood back into your life all at once.

This, of course, is how regain occurs.

I don't want to be a regainer; I want to be a maintainer. But I've made it this far by saying "no." So, how do I learn to say "yes" and still lose? I need to be able to say "yes" sometimes without it turning into a parade of yes. I'm still trying to find that balance.

JMEPAYNE
The NO all the time doesn't work for me. I just work to find the balance everyday. maybe it takes a little longer to get to the goal, but if that lifestyle is already there, then maintenance shouldn't require any real changes in my life. Good luck on finding your balance!1725 days ago

PATTISTAMPS
My advice for maintenance is two-fold. First, continue to track your food. Secondly, weigh in once a week and if you are up 3 pounds, get back to your losing tools. This allows you to have some treats, but keeps you from going hog-wild. And less than 3 pounds can be nothing but water. Although you know your body best, so that may be 5 pounds if you ate something particularly salty. But set some numbers and then pay attention. If you keep it off for 6 months, you are on the right track. Every single one of us on this site has a tendency to gain weight. The only thing we can do is to stay vigilant. If you stay active, your calorie range will be higher than your range to lose, and that will help a lot! I KNOW you can do this!!!! 1725 days ago

MIRMIUM
hmmmmm well that is tough because I agree that you can't just deny the craving. That will just make it worse and lead to binge eating. What about having some healthier chocolatey options? Dark chocolate is a lot better than milk chocolate. I had a really bad chocolate craving one day so I made chocolate dipped strawberries. Berries and chocolate is heaven as far as I'm concerned and the ratio of healthy fruit to unhealthy chocolate was a bit better than if I'd just had the chocolate.

FUNLOVEN
I am sooooo glad I don't have to deal with those hormone devils anymore!

I read through all of the replies looking for clues to this dilemma. Everyone has developed their own approach to this problem.

My Spark Coach lesson wanted me to blog on "Moderation" the other day. I haven't done it yet because this is an area that I struggle in and I just can't come up with a "moderation" approach for myself.

My weak areas are sweets and alcohol. Since I haven't had sweets in my house for some time I am finding that I don't miss them so much. I do have Ghirardelli Chocolate 72% Cacao individual squares for those times that I just need "something" which are rare. I thought I have been wanting ice cream and have looked for some quality individual servings for some time without success so I bought a regular container and had a dish last night with chocolate syrup. I really concentrated on how it tasted and realized I didn't think it was all that great.

I read once that the key to this healthy life style we are trying to embrace is not to think or say "Oh, I can't have that because I'm on a diet" but to respond with "No thanks, I don't eat chocolate" (or whatever food it is). I am getting close to that mind set where I can honestly say "Oh, no thanks. I don't like to eat anything really sweet."

So try saying this (even to yourself) whenever you can. I think you will like this approach. And before you know it, it will be your new "mind set"

KING_SLAYER
What has worked for me is having one day a week where I eat what I want. I try and stay strict the other 6 days, but come Saturday, it's on like donkey kong! :) The key though is to not get too crazy on the free day, but to have some of the things that you don't allow yourself to have the rest of the week. It's my special prize for being good.1726 days ago

NBLONDHEIM
I think it is important to allow ourselves those moments to say yes. Be it, you have it planned in for the day to have the chocolate or cocktail or allowing yourself some room to "cheat." Now this doesn't mean going crazy but allowing yourself to eat a little more than usually just maybe 1 day a week. Sometimes our systems get so used to what we put into that when we do break out of our normalcy, it actually gives our system a "reboot!"

I wish you the best of luck in finding out your balance and what will work for you! 1726 days ago

FRENCHSEAMS
So, sometimes I get chocolate cravings that nothing but chocolate will cure and I'm trying to do 100 days sugar free. So, I found this works for me. Chocolate itself actually has no sugar, so I have a bar of unsweetened chocolate in the cupboard, bakers chocolate. If I really have a chocolate craving I break a chunk off and eat it. It's bitter, so I don't really like it and don't want to eat much, but it is real chocolate and it does cure the craving.

Now if it's sugar you crave in the form of a chocolate bar, it won't work, but if you really want actual chocolate, you might try this.1726 days ago

Until we reach a certain age, they will be part of life. Sometimes, there is no amount of willpower in the world to overcome!

Try to relax into it. Plan for it. Find something to satisfy your urge that will cause the least damage. The recipe for today is a single serve brownie. I love this idea! It's made from things normally in your pantry and takes less than 5 minutes. Enjoy it.

You've accomplished a huge amount and will continue on to reach your goal! Don't despair!1726 days ago

SCOTIANRUNNER
I also had a successful weigh in today. My nemesis, however, was a Tim Horton's "Apple Cobbler" donut. I took a teeny piece out of it and put it back in the box. It just wasn't worth it.I wish you luck in finding your "not worth it" moment. It's a lot easier to keep the balance when you do. Then again... you ARE on the white team..... hehe, can I bring you another chocolate bar 1726 days ago